Chapter 9
Tanin descended the grand staircase with an air of quiet confidence, her outfit perfectly chosen—a sleek pencil skirt and a soft blouse that accentuated her elegance. The clacking of her heels on the marble floor drew everyone's attention in the dining room.
Dowager Amelia's eyes lit up. "Tanin, my dear, you look stunning today! That outfit suits you so well."
"Thank you, Dowager," Tanin replied with a warm smile, twirling slightly for effect.
Damian, who was sipping his coffee, glanced up briefly. His face remained impassive, but Tanin caught the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips. Her heart fluttered, even though she told herself not to let it show.
"I'm ready to go," she announced, grabbing her bag.
"Take care, dear," Dowager Amelia said, and the twins waved enthusiastically.
Tanin bid everyone goodbye before walking with Damian through the towering palace doors to the waiting car. Once inside, Damian settled into his seat, focusing on his phone while Tanin stared out of the window.
Feigning an innocent look, she turned toward him. "Damian, I've been thinking about what happened yesterday. About Kitana."
Damian's eyes didn't leave his phone, but his brow furrowed slightly. "What about her?"
"She's my sister," Tanin began, her voice soft. "I don't think she meant to hurt me. It could have been an accident. She's not like that, Damian."
Finally, he looked up, his gaze piercing. "Didn't you make me sign a contract yesterday morning to have nothing to do with your family?"
Tanin gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, yes, but I can break it for my family. Kitana needs help. She needs a job. Even if it's something small, like in the computer department. She studied computer science in school."
Damian stared at her for a long moment, his face unreadable. Then he leaned back in his seat, letting out a sigh. "Fine. Call her. Tell her to come to the office for an interview."
Tanin's eyes sparkled with delight, and she gave him a dazzling smile. "Thank you, Damian!" she said sweetly before pulling out her phone to call Kitana.
The conversation was short and enthusiastic. Kitana thanked Tanin profusely for helping her, her excitement palpable.
The car pulled up in front of Blackwell Enterprises. Damian stepped out first, buttoning his suit jacket, and Tanin followed, her heels clicking on the pavement. Roman greeted them both with a polite nod before escorting them inside.
---
Damian was immersed in his work when Roman entered the office. "Sir, Miss Kitana Scottsdale has arrived."
Damian's gaze flickered to Tanin, who sat across from him, flipping through a magazine. She gave him an encouraging smile.
"Send her in," Damian said curtly, closing his laptop.
Kitana walked in moments later, dressed in a form-fitting outfit that seemed designed to draw attention. She smiled nervously but didn't miss an opportunity to flutter her lashes at Damian.
Tanin sat back, watching the interaction intently. Kitana was doing her best to make Damian notice her, using every opportunity under the pretext of answering interview questions to lean forward or gesture dramatically.
Damian, unimpressed, leaned back in his chair. "Roman," he called, his voice sharp.
Roman entered promptly.
"Take Miss Scottsdale to the computer department," Damian said. "Let her demonstrate her skills there."
Tanin's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Oh, I think that's a great idea!" she said cheerfully, clapping her hands. "Kitana, show them what you're capable of!"
Kitana nodded eagerly, clearly viewing this as her chance to impress Damian.
---
The computer department buzzed with activity as Kitana was seated at one of the systems. A small group of employees gathered to watch, their curiosity piqued.
Kitana began typing, her confidence growing as she navigated the system. But within minutes, a flashing alert appeared on the screen. Gasps filled the room as the company's protective codes were breached, triggering a virus that began spreading rapidly through the network.
"What's happening?" one of the employees shouted, panic evident in their voice.
Kitana froze, her hands trembling. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Tanin, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward. "Let me try," she said, her voice calm but firm.
She slid into the chair, her fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced precision. Lines of code appeared on the screen as she worked to isolate and eliminate the virus. The room fell silent, everyone watching in awe as she navigated the complex systems effortlessly.
After several tense minutes, the screens returned to normal. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, and applause erupted.
Tanin turned to Kitana, her expression soft and understanding. "It's okay. These things happen," she said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder.
But the employees weren't as forgiving. "She almost cost the company a massive loss!" one of them muttered.
"She's lucky Luna Tanin was here to save the day," another said.
The murmurs grew louder, and soon the consensus was clear: Kitana had been reckless, and they wouldn't tolerate her putting Tanin in a position to clean up her mess again.
---
Damian stormed into the department minutes later, his laptop under his arm. "What the hell happened?" he demanded, his voice like thunder.
Roman stepped forward, his expression grim. "Sir, Miss Kitana caused a breach in the protective codes. It triggered a virus that affected all systems, including yours."
Damian's eyes darkened as he turned to Kitana, who stood trembling beside Tanin.
"You're banned from this company," he said coldly.
"No, Damian, please!" Tanin stepped forward, her hands clasped in a pleading gesture. "It was an accident. Please don't ban her."
Kitana clutched Tanin's arm, looking terrified.
"Tanin," Damian began, his tone warning.
Tanin's voice broke, and it looked as if she might kneel in front of him. "Please, Damian. She's my sister. She deserves a chance to prove herself."
The employees exchanged glances, their loyalty to Tanin outweighing their disdain for Kitana. "If Luna Tanin vouches for her, we'll support her," one of them said hesitantly.
Damian exhaled sharply. "Fine. But she's on thin ice." He looked at Kitana, his expression icy. "You'll work in the computer department under Tanin's supervision. If there's one more mistake, you're out."
The tension in the room eased slightly, and the employees began to disperse.
As the last of them left, Tanin let out a soft, satisfied chuckle. She quickly masked it with her usual sweet smile when Damian glanced at her.
"Thank you," she said innocently.
Damian gave her a long look before turning on his heel and walking out.
As soon as he was gone, Tanin's smile widened, a devilish glint in her eyes. **This is just the beginning**, she thought. **Kitana doesn't know what's coming**.